How to put in lights?
howiedoit
06-07-2002, 01:03 PM
Does anyone know how to get working headlights and tailights? Anyone have step-by-step instructions? What parts do I need? Thanks!
COZMO6476
06-07-2002, 04:30 PM
there are several ways to do it. unfortunately, i only know one of them. i just picked up a bunch of flashlight bulbs at the local RadioShack, some wire, some batteries, and a little bare metal foil. I wired four bulbs in parallel and hooked them up to a battery source (outside of the car since you cant fit enough batteries inside the car to make the lights shine bright enough. i placed the foil on one side of the bulb so that it didn't light up the interior of the car or the engine bay. here are some of the pics of the finished product. the car is being displayed in the tiny imports gallery.
your other options are using LED's but im not sure how to wire those. i think you have to have resistors in series with the led's for them to work without burning out, but thats about all i know. and looking for information on the net about how to use LED's has so far been fruitless for me. if anyone knows how to do that please let us know.
http://www.tinyimports.com/Gallery/Miravite/supra2.jpg
http://www.tinyimports.com/Gallery/Miravite/supra4.jpg
your other options are using LED's but im not sure how to wire those. i think you have to have resistors in series with the led's for them to work without burning out, but thats about all i know. and looking for information on the net about how to use LED's has so far been fruitless for me. if anyone knows how to do that please let us know.
http://www.tinyimports.com/Gallery/Miravite/supra2.jpg
http://www.tinyimports.com/Gallery/Miravite/supra4.jpg
Jay!
06-07-2002, 04:31 PM
I've been considering this for a while, too. I think it would be especially effective on kits that are lacking engine detail anyway, and they have space inside to hold the electrical parts...
If I ever get around to it, I'm sure I'll do a complete write up... ;)
If I ever get around to it, I'm sure I'll do a complete write up... ;)
Wishmaster
06-07-2002, 05:24 PM
If you don't like the wires and don't have enough room for battery's, it could be an idea to use the same way slotracers get their power. Just by using metal strips that lie underneath the car and some pins that are attached to the underside of the car that makes contact. In a fixed case or diorama no-one will see it. Or am I wrong..?? ever tried it.Just started, but it seems to me as a possible way to get power without wires. And if you got a transformator it doesn't matter what power it uses, you can always go on a higher voltage. Also possible to chance models if you have more than one that has lights.
MX100
06-07-2002, 05:30 PM
o sh*t....i should of payed attention when we were doin the Physic chapter in science....
damn it~!!!!
I remember paralell but forgot wat it is~!? connecting cell in a line and makes the battery last longer but not as bright?
and Series is when u connect the bulb to make it brighter but use up more batteries right~!?~!?~!?
damn it~!!!!
I remember paralell but forgot wat it is~!? connecting cell in a line and makes the battery last longer but not as bright?
and Series is when u connect the bulb to make it brighter but use up more batteries right~!?~!?~!?
Wishmaster
06-07-2002, 05:36 PM
to put it simple..
Serie, 1 big chain of lights = 4 lights like a chain for a christmastree so one wire to the battery, other wires connect the lights with each other
Parallel, every light has it's one wire to the battery = 4 lights -> 4 wires to battery
That's what I remember (daddy is an electromecanic:D)
Just asked daddy.. :D
Serie : Lights don't shine to bright
Parallel : battery eater
looks like an 6 year old.... :bloated:
Serie, 1 big chain of lights = 4 lights like a chain for a christmastree so one wire to the battery, other wires connect the lights with each other
Parallel, every light has it's one wire to the battery = 4 lights -> 4 wires to battery
That's what I remember (daddy is an electromecanic:D)
Just asked daddy.. :D
Serie : Lights don't shine to bright
Parallel : battery eater
looks like an 6 year old.... :bloated:
ales
06-07-2002, 09:17 PM
Originally posted by Wishmaster
to put it simple..
Serie, 1 big chain of lights = 4 lights like a chain for a christmastree so one wire to the battery, other wires connect the lights with each other
Parallel, every light has it's one wire to the battery = 4 lights -> 4 wires to battery
That's what I remember (daddy is an electromecanic:D)
Just asked daddy.. :D
Serie : Lights don't shine to bright
Parallel : battery eater
looks like an 6 year old.... :bloated:
This brings back memories of be installing a stereo system on mybicycle ... :rolleyes:
Anyway, the last statement is not 100% true. If you have, let's say, a 12V battery, then you can wire 4X3V bulbs in a series (!) and they will shine quite bright. On the other hand, if you only have a 3V battery, then you have to go parallel and it will drain power (unless you use more batteries than one). Not to mention all the possible serie / parallel combinations.
Oh, and let's try to illustrate, shal we?
Serial:
+battery-
------0------||--------0-----
| |
|____0___________0___|
The voltage (V) of the battery is split equally between the parts of the chain.
Parallel:
+battery-
------||-------
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
All parts of the chain will be getting the same voltage (V) as the battery provides but the current (A) will be split equally between them.
That was your today's lesson :)
to put it simple..
Serie, 1 big chain of lights = 4 lights like a chain for a christmastree so one wire to the battery, other wires connect the lights with each other
Parallel, every light has it's one wire to the battery = 4 lights -> 4 wires to battery
That's what I remember (daddy is an electromecanic:D)
Just asked daddy.. :D
Serie : Lights don't shine to bright
Parallel : battery eater
looks like an 6 year old.... :bloated:
This brings back memories of be installing a stereo system on mybicycle ... :rolleyes:
Anyway, the last statement is not 100% true. If you have, let's say, a 12V battery, then you can wire 4X3V bulbs in a series (!) and they will shine quite bright. On the other hand, if you only have a 3V battery, then you have to go parallel and it will drain power (unless you use more batteries than one). Not to mention all the possible serie / parallel combinations.
Oh, and let's try to illustrate, shal we?
Serial:
+battery-
------0------||--------0-----
| |
|____0___________0___|
The voltage (V) of the battery is split equally between the parts of the chain.
Parallel:
+battery-
------||-------
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
|____0_____|
All parts of the chain will be getting the same voltage (V) as the battery provides but the current (A) will be split equally between them.
That was your today's lesson :)
daggerlee
06-07-2002, 09:41 PM
Then again, flashlight (incadescent) bulbs shine pretty bright, don't they? You run a risk of melting the paint and plastic by leaving it on too long.
LEDs are almost heatless, and the white LEDs are closer to real xenon HID lights than the yellow hue given off by incandescents, however nobody to date knows how to use them in a model yet...plus they are expensive and require lots of expertise :)
LEDs are almost heatless, and the white LEDs are closer to real xenon HID lights than the yellow hue given off by incandescents, however nobody to date knows how to use them in a model yet...plus they are expensive and require lots of expertise :)
Kosmonaut
06-07-2002, 09:59 PM
fibreoptics is the way to go
COZMO6476
06-08-2002, 12:24 AM
Originally posted by Kosmonaut
fibreoptics is the way to go
where does one get fiber optics? I've done a couple Sci-fi models with fiber optics, but they came with the stuff. you know where to get some?
fibreoptics is the way to go
where does one get fiber optics? I've done a couple Sci-fi models with fiber optics, but they came with the stuff. you know where to get some?
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